The clinical unit is managed by licensed and master’s level mental health professionals, who oversee prevention and diversion services for youth referred to the Juvenile Services Department (JSD).   

 

Services provided by the mental health professional staff include:

 

• Evaluating children in crisis and initiating Baker Act procedures
• Providing clinical assistance to JSD staff working with children and their families
• Clinical review of Treatment Alternative for Safer Communities (TASC) psychosocial assessments, which are completed on children who are classified as being moderate or high risk of having mental health and substance abuse issues
• Training on evidence-based tools and techniques used to assess the client population
• Training on mental health and substance abuse issues
• Supervision of prevention and diversion services

 

Description of Prevention and Diversion Services supervised by the Clinical Unit:

 

Civil Citation

The JSD is working with various Law enforcement agencies to develop and implement the first true pre-arrest component designed to provide the assessment and intervention services to children who are at imminent risk of becoming youthful offenders. The Department’s vision is to work closely with the stake holders in the area of Juvenile Justice and Children’s Advocacy to identify and address the issues of the at risk population to prevent their entrance into the Juvenile Justice System.         

 

PAD

The Post-Arrest Diversion Program (PAD) is an innovative program at the Miami-Dade Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC) that offers youth a second chance.  This program, began operations on December 20, 2000.  The PAD is an alternative arrest processing program that allows the JAC to keep first time-arrested juveniles for minor offenses from entering the traditional system. It also provides a format to apply best research practices at the earliest point of entry, identify risk factors and, including the family, apply a personalized diversion program that addresses the issues of the child and not the offense.  Florida State Statute language was passed to allow juveniles successful completing the program a mechanism to eliminate their arrest record.

  

YOP

The Young Offenders Process (YOP) is a diversion program for arrested children under 12 years of age. Once the child is identified as a potential candidate for this program an age and gender appropriate psychosocial assessment is completed on the child. Based on the client and family interviews, the arrest charge, and school records, sanctions and services are put into place for the youth and family, often to include counseling and community service for the youth. The family will receive case-management services for approximately 3-6 months. This pilot program is being expanded to include all arrested youth in this age group and may further be expanded to include the at risk population.

 

JASS

Juvenile Alternative Services Sanctions (JASS) provides delinquency prevention services to nonviolent misdemeanor offenders. JASS individualized client needs assessments provide the basis for the development of treatment plans.  Program services include case management services, victim/offender mediation, restitution coordination, community work service, and referrals to: psycho-educational groups, substance abuse counseling, and family and individual counseling.  JASS client treatment and alternative sanction plans are monitored by means of home, school, and field visits as well as collateral contacts. 

 

JASP

The Juvenile Alternative Services Program (JASP) is a juvenile diversion program offering an alternative to judicial processing for first referral eligible felony and violent misdemeanor offenders. The JASP program provides individualized client needs assessments, alternative sanctions and treatment plans, case management services, community work service, coordination of restitution payments, social skills enhancement, victim/offender mediation, and referrals to: family and individual counseling, psycho educational groups, substance abuse treatment.  Referrals are received from the State of Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), the State Attorney’s Office (SAO) and Juvenile Court.  The program utilizes a vast network of service agencies, coordinating closely with Dade County Public Schools, and the State Attorney’s Office.  Services are provided in 3 office locations, as well as through home, school and field visits

 

IDDS

The Intensive Delinquency Diversion Services (IDDS) Program provides a cost effective alternative to judicial handling for youth under 15 years of age who have been charged with an offense, which if committed by an adult, would be a criminal act.  All youth served by this program have been assessed by the Department of Juvenile Justice as being at high risk of becoming serious, chronic offenders based on factors identified by the book, ”The 8% Solution Preventing Serious Repeat Juvenile Offenders”. This program provides intensive supervision and program services to forty-five (45) high-risk diversion eligible juveniles, six days per week, including after school hours for a period of five to seven months.  Program supervision includes multiple face to face contacts with each youth weekly, weekly parental contact, weekly school contact as well as contact with each service provider involved in the youth’s individualized treatment plan.  These contacts are made in the youth’s home, school, and various other community sites.

 

These programs have the following outreach offices/locations:

 

Main Office/Central

275 NW 2^nd Street   2^nd Floor

Miami, FL  33128

305-755-6282          

305-755-6283

305-755-6301 Fax

 

Opa-Locka Neighborhood Services Center/North

16405 NW 25^th Ave.  Room #100

Miami, FL  33054

305-622-2572 ext.16           

305-622-2576 Fax

 

South Dade Government Center

10710 SW 211^th Street   Room #106

Miami, FL 33189

305-234-1433          

305-234-3989 Fax